Shawlands Town Centre Action Plan

What is it?

Shawlands Town Centre is a Tier 2 Town Centre in South Glasgow, supporting an immediate catchment of over 44,000 people and a wider catchment of almost 200,000.

Its performance however had been challenged by changes in the retail sector, internet shopping and new customer habits.

The Council's concern was that if this continued unchecked, it could have led to a decline in investment and the attractiveness of the wider area.

Our Partners

Glasgow City Council and a range of partners, including Shawlands & Strathbungo Community Council and the Shawlands Business Improvement District worked together to develop a turnaround strategy for the town centre.

The Shawlands Town Centre Action Plan was then launched in May 2012 and over a 7 year period invested £3.52m in targeted improvements.

A set of links to the approved plan and background research are available under related documents for those who wish to find out more about how the partners sought to reposition Shawlands as a destination, how the project was delivered and future opportunities within the town centre. 

The Shawlands Town Centre Action Plan

The Shawlands Town Centre Action Plan plan succeeded in:

• improving gateways, investing in shop front improvements;
• reconfiguring crossings, introducing high quality footways and expanded spaces to support the local café culture;
• making the centre safer at night by introducing better ambient lighting;
• making the centre more vibrant, building its local cultural and creative offer; and
• protecting the town centre's Victorian and Edwardian buildings by designating the Shawlands Cross Conservation Area in 2013.

Development of Shawlands Town Square 

In 2019 the Action Plan worked culminated in the creation of a new public square in front of the Category 'A' listed Langside Halls - Shawlands Square. The space is intended to act as a catalyst for unlocking the potential of the hall and was developed by reconfiguring a confusing set of traffic islands and relocating a taxi rank that had used the space for over 70 years.

In developing the square the partners have introduced a new multi-mode transport hub and new link to South City Cycle Way. The space hosted the Southside Fringe Festival in 2019 and going forward will be the principal location for festival activities. In 2021 it is hoped to reintroduce a twice monthly farmers market to help attract new customers into the town centre.  

As a result of the Shawlands Town Centre Plan and its role as a catalyst for change, the wider Cathcart Circle now has over £340m of investment in housing and cultural facilities in the pipeline, including:

• the new Pollokshaws Village,
• Victoria Infirmary,
• Scottish Power, and
• Burrell Gallery regeneration. 

With renewed confidence, colour and vibrancy the area is attracting volumes of investment and helping attract many new residents who had previously not considered the Southside of the city.